Treating an Unconscious Patient

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Unconsciousness

The most common causes of unconsciousness are stroke, epilepsy, drug overdose, head injury, cardiac arrest, poisoning, diabetes and alcohol. There are various levels of unconsciousness. If the person responds to sound and touch, then the state is only light as in a faint. If the level of response is low, then the person is more deeply unconscious. If there is no response at all, then there is a potentially dangerous state.

You should follow these guidelines for dealing with unconscious patients:

• Send for an Ambulance. Dial your local emergency services telephone number.
• If breathing and heartbeat have stopped, begin resuscitation immediately.
• If the casualty is breathing normally, place in the recovery position. But if there is any possibility of spinal injury do not move unless breathing difficulty makes it vital.
• Examine the casualty for causes of unconsciousness. There may be signs of injury such as bleeding or swellings.
• Treat any serious wounds or fractures.
• Look carefully for other clues e.g. glucose tablets could indicate that the casualty suffers from diabetes. Many people with epilepsy haemophilia or diabetes wear an identity bracelet to this effect.
• Cover with a blanket, keep warm and reassure.
• If removal to hospital is delayed check the levels of responsiveness, pulse and breathing every ten minutes, and be ready to give the A-B-C of resuscitation as required.
• Do not give the patient anything to eat or drink.
• Do not leave the patient unattended.

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